Priest burns Pachamama idols

[catholic03]

Our pope has done nothing wrong. Allowing indigenous people to bring a statue to the Vatican is simply an ecumenical outreach. The Holy Father was not worshipping the idols but simply respecting this culture.

Besides, are they not seen by some tribes to be representative of the Virgin Mother?

 

[vz71]

The Holy Father was not worshipping the idols but simply respecting this culture.

We can respect a culture without allowing pagan idols into the Church.

Besides, are they not seen by some tribes to be representative of the Virgin Mother?

The Vatican has responded specifically that these statues were NOT the Virgin Mary.

 

[godisgood77]

Wise words and historical context on this situation…

Inculturation: A two-way street

www.chicagocatholic.com

The newly canonized St. John Henry Newman reminded Christians in the 19th century to approach other cultures, even if they are non-Christian, with humility. In his 1878 “Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine,” he noted that the church has always adopted pagan elements in its traditions and especially its liturgical rites:

“The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees, incense, lamps and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water, asylums; holy days and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the east, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the church.”

I personally appreciate the zeal shown by people who are moved to action in defense of the Church. However, those who are outraged by the fact that the indigenous people have symbols in their culture, demonstrate a certain level of ignorance of the history of the Church. Hoping and praying for a more Christian response next time.

 

[Genesis315]

I’m not really following here how Cardinal Cupich’s reasoning applies to Pachamama.

I understand good inculturation. Many cultures had customs, architecture, vestments, and objects associated with the sacred and holy that were deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the culture–when these these things were present, the people immediately recognized sacredness.

To help such cultures recognize sacredness in Christianity, the Church often adapted such architecture, vestements, and other things that said to the culture loud and clear “this is sacred” (as far as was possible without falling into superstition or syncretism). They were used to show the sacredness of God, Christ, and Christian worship, not to reinforce the sacredness of pagan gods.

For example, a candle might indicate a prayer is being offered, or a chausable that a sacrifice is being offered–but these prayers and sacrifices were no longer offered to the pagan gods, but to the one true God.

Could you explain specifically how offering sacrifices of grains and other foods to Pachamama is inculturation?

My understanding is that this desire to offer sacrifice in thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth is a good thing, and it should be “Christianized” by explaining how such sacrifice of thanksgiving should be only offered to God, in particular in the Mass where the true Bread of Life is offered. Inculturation is not including the adoration of Pachamama or “mother earth” or any part of creation alongside the adoration of God. That is syncretism.